Her research has focused on the molecular control of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal tissue injury. She was awarded an NHMRC Australian-based Biomedical Training Fellowship (2009 – 2012) to conduct novel research focused on discovery of peripheral blood mRNA expression profiles associated with risk of toxicity during treatment for oesophageal cancer. She is head of the highly active Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology Laboratory (node of the Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group) which focuses on mechanisms and treatment of cancer therapy-induced gastrointestinal injury in patient-based, rodent and tissue culture models.

Overview: A/Prof Bowen's research has focused on the molecular control of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal tissue injury. She was awarded an NHMRC Australian-based Biomedical Training Fellowship (2009 – 2012) to conduct novel research focused on discovery of peripheral blood mRNA expression profiles associated with risk of toxicity during treatment for oesophageal cancer. She is head of the highly active Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology Laboratory (node of the Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group) which focuses on mechanisms and treatment of cancer therapy-induced gastrointestinal injury in patient-based, rodent and tissue culture models.

Contribution to field of research: A/Prof Bowen is an author of over 100 peer-reviewed research publications and 6 book chapters. Her h-index is currently 41 and i10-index is 71, with articles accruing 4300 citations (Google Scholar).

International standing: She held the co-chair role for the MASCC Mucositis Study Group from 2009 to 2015, organised the annual Mucositis Workshop (over 100 participants) each year and was the co-organiser of the MASCC/ISOO mucositis guidelines update, which culminated in 12 systematic review publications. She is also a member of the MASCC Governance Committee and was elected to the MASCC Board in 2018. Mucositis forms part of the larger field of cancer survivorship and patient support which is emerging into a priority area for oncology. She has been an invited speaker and/or session chair at the MASCC/ISOO Symposium 2009 - 2017. In 2018 she was an invited speaker at the International Meeting for Nutrition and Molecular Medicine (Malaysia).

Peer review involvement: A/Prof Bowen regularly reviews manuscripts for journals including Supportive Care in Cancer, Gut, and American Journal of Gastroenterology. She has reviewed NHRMC project grants continuously since 2011 and also reviews applications for Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation. A/Prof Bowen was a member of the NHMRC Postdoctoral Reference group in 2012, and a panel member for the ECR Fellowships in 2018. She is a editorial board member for the journal Gastroenterology Research and Practice.

Funding

A/Prof Bowen’s research program has been funded by NHMRC, Cancer Council SA, SA Cancer Research Collaborative, Cure Cancer Australia, Australian Dental Research Foundation, the Ray and Shirl Norman Cancer Research Trust, the Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee, Flinders University and University of Adelaide. With her co-investigators, funding has totalled almost $2M since 2006. Industry support has been a major funder and continues to be an area of increasing linkage. Current and previous industry partners include GlaxoSmithKline (CI), Helsinn Healthcare (CI), Pfizer (PI), Puma Biotechnology (PI) and AstraZeneca (CI), and funding has totalled almost $1.5M since 2009.

Teaching

In 2011, A/Prof Bowen was appointed a lecturer in Physiology, University of Adelaide, promoted to senior lecturer in 2014 and associate professor in 2016, which has provided opportunities to teach and train the next generation of researchers. She teaches within the Programs of B.HlthMedSc, B.DS, and B.Nurs. In addition, A/Prof Bowen co-coordinates the Adelaide Medical School Honours Program. She is Deputy Chair of the Faculty Gender Equity and Diversity committee and implements inclusive practices for courses she teaches.